Schools

Parents: Common Core is 'Hijacking Our Kids'

Smithtown parents speak out against Common Core, state assessments before Board of Education on Tuesday night.

Smithtown school district parents tore apart the controversial Common Core curriculum and state assessments, blaming it for creating students fear and avoid schoolwork. 

Amy Hennig, a Smithtown parent of two students, said since the Common Core math has been implemented in Smithtown School District her daughter has started complaining of stomach aches, as stress over the new learning system has manifested in physical symptoms. 

"They are really hijacking our children. Who said they would be more ready for college based on this theory? Who said this is the way to do it?," Hennig asked. 

Parents questioned the district's decisions on implementing Common Core, including adopting the state's new math curriculum, putting aside previously purchased textbook and workbooks at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night.
 
"We were told at Back-to-School night, 'We are flying a plane while we are building it.'," said Lillian Hope. "How dare you use our kids as guinea pigs." 

Hope, a parent of second-grade and sixth-grade boys, said the new common core curriculum fails is frustrating to students and parents, leaving children behind as it fails to recognize each student has a different learning style and ability.

"Common Core does not benefit anyone not students, not teachers, not parents. Students are not one size fit all. Our kids are not common nor or your teachers, they are individual with different strength and weaknesses," Hope said. "It's sad to see a child who used to love school not wanting to go." 

Another mother complained when her sixth-grade daughter had difficulty completing a homework assessment, even her 10th-grade honor student and husband, who works in field with mathematical figures, found the questions intentionally misleading.

Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Bradshaw, Smithtown's director of curriculum, acknowledged the school district recognizes it is in a difficult transition time and there are problems with the new math curriculum. 

"Yes your concerns are heard, they are valid and we are responding to them as quickly as we can," Bradshaw said. 

New supplemental materials are being produced by the district to help make the Common Core math curriculum "more palatable" to children, parents and teachers, according to Bradshaw. 

Pam Farino, a Smithtown parent, expressed concerns that Smithtown is already falling behind with only 70 percent of students testing as college or career ready in last spring's assessments, compared to neighboring school district Half Hollow Hills. 

Last month, Smithtown Board of Education voted unanimously to approve a resolution that challenges New York State Educational Department review its current system and the federal government to overhaul the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, better known as the "No Child Left Behind Act."

Tell us, How do you feel about the Common Core curriculum in Smithtown schools and how is it affecting your child? 


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